By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The Courage Partylist directed through a memorandum its regional, provincial and city formations as well as member organizations to intensify their campaign for the reconsideration of their accreditation to participate in the 2010 elections.

In an 11 page resolution by the Comelec’s 1st Division received by the partylist on November 19, the Courage Partylist was denied accreditation on allegations that the partylist had no national constituency and failed to submit their articles of incorporation as proof that they are representing a marginalised and under-represented sector.

According to the partylist, the Comelec mistook them to be COURAGE the national organization of government employees; and misconstrued their non-submission of their articles of incorporation as a defiance. The Partylist said the submission of such a document is not actually a requirement for the registration of a partylist. Otherwise, “why was it not mentioned during their August 28 hearing at the Comelec”, they asked.

According to Courage Partylist, in the verification process, the Comelec said they had no membership in 11 regions where the partylist submitted a list of members to the Comelec. And, in that the areas of Lanao del norte, Makati, Rizal, 1st and 2nd District of Quezon City the Comelec claimed they had verified the existence of the Partylist’s members where the partylist actually reported no members.

Pointed out also in the memo, was that in the resolution the Comelec ordered its regional offices to verify the existence of “Kalinga” and not Courage PartyList in different regions.

“It is quite unacceptable to us that three commissioners have affixed their signatures without noticing such an error,” Courage Partylist National President Ferdinand Gaite said.

Gaite said the Comelec’s resolution denying their application deprived both active and retired state employees of their right to be represented in Congress.
Gaite said that they will still file a “Manifestation to participate in the 2010 elections on December 1 which is the deadline of filing. He said they will stage a nationally coordinated action on the same date”.#nordis.net